Packaging machine



1,628 803 May 17, 1927. J. Q PINTER PACKAGING MACHINE INVENIOR.

@ Jaw c. Hem? A'TroRNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I May 17 1927' J. c. PINTER PACKAGING MACHINE Filed march 27. 192s ATTORNEY I n@ R mm m mm u b HT mm mr| Itlll.\ DI if: 0. w. u @E u m w T .www n \u .f x/ N QM. ,wm E m `w mw .Q Q W.. N b` QN n ww, WQQ V) I 192 May 7 7 J. c. PINTER PACKAGING' MACHINE Filed March 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Mommy 1,628,803 May 17, J. C" PINTER PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 27. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 4 Y INVENTOR z\ Jon/r6.' P//rTE/ rATTORNEY Psienied May 17, 1927.

JOHN C. PINTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

Application led March 27, 1926. Serial No. 97,885.

My present invention relates to improvements 1n packaging machines adapted 'especially for packing bakery goods into receptacles or cartons. While the machine or ap'- paratus of my invention is well suited for packaging various bakery .goods and other similar articles, for convenience of illustration and description I have shown the present exemplificationv of my invention as particiilarly adaptedfor vpackaging biscuits generally known as crackers') usually twenty in number in cartons.

In carrying out my invention, the open cartons with the usual wax-paper liner therein, are supplied to the machine in suitable manner and deposited upon an intermittently moving endless conveyer belt which is located adJacent to Ia similar endless and intermittently moving cracker carrier, and means are provided for feeding the crackers in a row, continuously, tothe carrier.. The conveyer and carrier are arranged in parel? lelism and move synchronously, and means r are provided for dividing the continuous row of crackers into charges complementary to the empty cartons moving with the conveyer in juxtaposition to thel carrier. A ram or injecting mechanism, operating transversely to the line of movement of the charges and cartons, is employed to transfer successive charges -to complementary cartons,l and means co-operating'with the ram mechanism are utilized to spread and retain the' waxpaper liner or wrapper of .the carton during the ramming operation. After the charge has been pushed or injected into a waiting carton, the filled carton is automatically transferred to an intermittentl fille cartons whic a succeeding station for subsequent operations.

TheF invention consists in-.certain novel combinations and varrangements of parts and novel features of construction for accomplishing the above steps in the operation ofV the machine'as will hereinafter be pointed out and claimed.

In the, accompanying drawings I have i1- lustrated one complete example of the hysical embodiment` of my invention w crein. the parts are combined and arran ed according to one mode I lhave thus far `evised forth'e practical application of the princi les of my invention. It :will be understood t at" various changes and alterations of the exmore fully moving discharging conveyer for the' are thereby conveyed to,

empliied form of the invention are contemplated and can be made within the scope of my appended claims without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view'of a machine embodying my invention.

' Figure 21s an enlarged side view of a portion of the feed chutes and carrier for the crackers; I

Figure 3 is a detail view at line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the cracker carrier in section and illustrating Y,onefend of 'the feed chutes co-operating therewith.

Figure 4 isan'enlarged, vertical sectional view, `.transversely of the cracker carrier, showing a cracker on the carrier, the ramhead, and the mechanism actuated by the ramfor spreading'and retaining the' waX-.

paper liner or wrapper together with the discharging table for'tlie filled carton.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the filled carton, as it is conveyed from the machine. Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation, showing the pivoted discharge table, and `means for spreading and retaining the .waxpaper liner.

Figure 7 is a top plan detail view partly in section of part of the wax-paper liner spreading mechanism. v i igure 8 is a view in side' elevation (with the cracker carrier in transverse section) showing the actuating and operating mechanism of the spreading devices. 4

' Figure 9 isy a perspective view showing the osition of theempty 'cartons as they.

.is lled, it is deposited in upright position of, Figure 5, and carried away for further treatment.

In order that the general assembly andl arrangement of parts may with vfacility be" understood, it will be seen in Fi I 'have indicated a motor 1v wit \shaft 2 connected withthe gear casing 3, and

` re 1 that its drive the driven shaft 4 at tacle, and th'ewax-paper in4 position to permit` the entrance of the charge of twenty crackf` a reduction gear inv the opposite side of the gear casing is equipped with a ratchet mechanism for imparting an .intermittent rotary movement to the operating shaft 6. The operating shaft is provided with a drum 7 having suitable sprockets (not shown). The carton conveyer l is an endless belt 8 of suitable length and of carried along while standing erect, or on a width to support the cartons in the horizontal position of Figure 9 and, isprovided with sprocket chains that pass around the drive drum 7 and also arounda complementary supporting drum 9. The cartons are approximately eight inches long and at regular intervals throughout the lengtll of the conveyer belt, spaced, transversely arranged push plates 11 are xed thereon to form spaces or intervals in which the vempty cartons are deposited, as by hand.

The empty cartons are deposited, either manually or automatically at the right end ofthe conveyer in Figure 1, with their open sides toward a cracker carrier 12, which is also an endless belt, located adjacent to and parallel with the carton conveyer, and

travels intermittently in the same direction as the ,carton conveyer, as indicatedby the arrows in Figure 1. The conveyer 'belt 8 with its drums 7 and' 9 on the respective shafts 6 and 10 terminates at both ends short ofthe cracker carrier to accommodate an operator who will usually be stationed at the ends of this conveyer, for the purpose of maintaining proper movement of the crackers and cartons, if required.

The cracker carrier is provided with one or more sprocket chains 13 at the inner sides of its lights which pass over the drive sprockets of the, drum 7, and at its ends the carrier passes around guide drums 14 and 15 supported to rotate with their shafts in suitable bearings.

The carrier -12 is also provided with spaced, transversely extending push plates 16, each having a central finger or-projeeting extension 17, and these push plates are alined with the series of push plates 11 on the car,- ton conveyer as indicated in Figure 1.

The crackers are fed'in a continuous row to thecarrierat the right end of Figure 1, while standing -on. edge, bymeans of a pair of inclined, longitudinally disposed feed belts 18 and 19 located above the carrier,

'spaced at the sides of its longitudinal eenthe feed belts 18 and 19, the crackers are divided into charges (say twenty crackers to a charge) by means ot the lingers or extensions 17 ot' the push plates 16. The successive fingers pass between the longitudinally disposed belts 18 and 19 and their rollers and shafts, and as the row of crackers descends, two adjoining crackers are separated by an extension, thus forming successive, spaced, charges of twenty crackers to a charge.

As the successive charges are carried to the left in Figure 1, they are successively pushed or injected into a complementary, waiting carton C. The carton lies on the conveyer iIi the position of Figure 9 with the two end walls C3 of the. carton (which are folded inwardly when the carton is being closed) in vertical position and projecting with the wax-paper liner W toward the carrier, in order that the charge of crackers may be pushed into the open side of the carton. The open carton is delivered by the conveyor 8 to a pivoted or drop table 211, having a side abutment 25 against which the carton is arranged for proper alinement. A ram head 26 reciprocates transversely of the carrier and above it to push the charge of crackers into the carton on its working stroke, and means are provided for spreading open and retaining the 'four walls ot the wax-paper liner W to readily permit the entrance of the charge into the carton, or into the wrapper within the carton.

'The ram head 26, which is an upright, oblongV shaped plate that may 'be slotted as indicated in Figure 6, is carried by an op'enf frame or slide 27 having guide ribs that slide in grooves or guideways in the top surface of an open supporting frame 28, and lugs 29 or other suitable means may be employed to retain the slide in proper relation to its supporting, fixed plate or frame 28. The slide and its integral or rigid head are reciprocatedy through the co-action of a rack bar or plate 29 carried at one edge of For spreading and retaining the walls ofi,

the wrapper W to permit entrance of the charge of crackers to the wrapper or carton, four pivoted plates 36, 37 and 38, 39 are arranged in pairs to swing into the opening of the wrapper, as in Figure 6, in advance Ithe slide, and an arcuate rack lever or segof the ram head, and then by a reverse movement to swing out of the open end of the wrapper after the ram has receded or lbeen retracted by spring 31, the movement of the plates being indicated by 'arrows in Figures 4 and The two vertically disposed vplates 36 and 37 spread the end walls of thewrapper, and

bearings in the frame B and provided with a coiled retracting spring 43 at one end (Fig. 6) to assist in returning the plate to vertical position after withdrawal of the,v

ram head. The lower plate 39 is fixed to revolve with a pair of trunnions or stud shafts 44 and 45 journaled in bearings in the frame B and the four plates are caused to swing through an arc of ninety degrees with the stud shaft 42 used as a drive shaft -for the lower` and upper plates. The operating shafts for the plates are caused to turn on their axes at the initial movement of the ranrhead in advance of its working stroke.

and immediately following its idle stroke.

frame including an upright bar46 is attached byv bracket 47 (Fig. 6)' to the slide 27, and a horizontal cam arm 48, at its front f end, is designed to turnl up a cam 49 on the shaft 42 with the initial movement` of the working stroke of the ram.

To' actuate the upper and lower plates and cause them to swing to operative positionV- in advance of the ram head shown in.

theI drawings, the rotary movement of the shaft 42 is transmitted tothe lower shaft 44 by the upward movement of. an inclined, connecting, double rack bar 50 having rack teethf atrits opposite sides to engage segy mental gears 51 and -52 yon the respective shafts 44 and 42.`

The two side plates 36 and 37 are swung through an arc of ninety degrees with their Ashafts 40 and 41 as indicated by arrows in 'Figure 7 through the instrumentality vof 'segmental gears 53 and 54 on the respective shafts, and a double 'rackV bar 55 with vrack teeth onV its opposite sides connects these gears, a spring 55 being attached to the bar and to a` portion ofthe frame B to assist in the 'return swing of'the plates. This horizontal rack bar is adapted to reciprlocate in supporting heads of the frame B and is'- actuated on its working. stroke bythe co-operation of a roller v56 carried by the bar and a cam portion 57 of a horizontal cam bar 58 disposed at ,v approximately right angles to the bar.

the rack bar. {The cam bar 58 as shown in Figure 8 is rigid or integral with the lower ers guide and support the sideframe and y retain it in operative positions as required.

The cracker carrier passes over a bed plate B supported on the frame B and presents successive charges of crackers to be trans ferred from the carrier to the drop or tiltable table 24. j

After the carton has been filled andthe retaining plates 36, 37 and 38, 39 have swung out of the wrapper as described, tl1e 1 filled carton which is resting on the table 24 against the abutnfent plate 25 of the table and a fixed abutment plate 61 of a Support'- ing frame. 62, the` table is dropped to discharge the filled carton to an endless delivery conveyer 63 whichjissupportedto travel i through the frame 62.

The table is pivoted in the fra-me B by means 'of a shaft G4 and ears or lugs 65, the

' latter` xed to the table at its underside. In Figure 8 it Will be seen that Aa side` By means of spring 66 attached to the lever arm 67 of the shaft and anchored to a portion of the frame B, the table is returned to and normally held in horizontaliosition v at the outer 'side of the cracker carr1er.

The table is tilted, as indicated by dotted arrow in Fig. 4 by means of a tappet 68 rigid with the shaft 64 and a bell crank tappet lever 69 pivoted at 70`on a recipro# eating tappet rod 71. The rod is suspended from .the slide l27 as at 72 inFigure 8 and reciprocates through stationary bearin S73 suspended from the frame B in line wit the longitudinal axis of the, slide.

A spring 74 permits the bell crank tappetV lever to swin idle stroke of the tappet rod 71, but upon the return or working stroke of the rod the backward on the voutward ortappet lever 69 engagesy the tappet 68 causingthe table to be tilted on its axis or shaft 6 4, whereupon the filled carton is deposited, as indicated in Figure 4 upon the waiting filled-carton conveyor 63.A

Various changes may be made in the`con` struction andoperation `of ,the apparatus or machine in its `adaptation for different uses.

The apparatus may be adaptedto various sizes of lcartons-to .be filled or packed, by

spaces of the y@cracker carrierandcarton .conveyer, as Well as the s1ze O; theY ram and its operating mechanism.

varying the Isizes ofthe compartments or It will be understood that the feed-row of crackers is formed b an operator or operators who pick the blscuits or crackers olf the baking pans as they come from the baking room, and the filled cartons as they are discharged from the apparatus are conveyed to a suitable closing agency.

4The cracker carrier and the carton conveyer may be made of -suitable material, and of course are flexible, and the cracker carrier is preferably provided with a cushion or soft surface for the standing crackers in order that they may not be chipped when placed on the carrier. The soft or cushion surface, which may be canvas, also prevents the crackers from falling to horizontal position as they move along with the carrier.

By the utilization of the machine or'apparatus, of my invention the 'crackers are packaged in a sanitary manner and with comparatively slight loss dueto breakage as compared with the breakage occurring under present practices of packaging the crackers, and a material reduction is assured in the cost of labor, as it will be apparent that the necessity for hand-operators or manual labor is reduced, the reduction in some intances being as great as fifty percent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a charge-carrying cracker-carrier and a complementary carton-conveyer, and means for simultaneously and intermittently moving said carrier and conveyer, and a transversely arranged drop table adapted to' receive successive cartons, of means for bodily transferring a charge from the carrier to a complementary carton between intermittent movements of the carrierv and conveyer.

2. The combination with a horizontal charge-carrying cracker carrier, a parallel.

carton conveyer, and a transversely movable drop table adapted to receive successive cartons, 'of means for transferringa charge 0f crackers from its carrier to a carton supported on said table.

A 3. The combination with an endless belt forming a 'cracker carrier, a complementary endless belt forming a carton conveyer, and

a transversely arranged drop table adapted to receive successive cartons, of a transversely operating ram mechanism, and means actuated by said mechanism for controlling the movement of said table.

4;. The combination with an endless belt forming a charge-carrying cracker carrier, a complementary f endless belt forming a carton carrier, and a transversely arranged drop table, of a transversely operating ram mechanism, actuating means adapted to intermittently move said carrier and conveyor, and means operated by the actuating means for operating said ram mechanism and drop table.

5. The combination with a ram mechanism adapted to insert a plurality of articles into a wrapper and carton, of spreader and` retaining devices adapted to engage the Walls of said wrapper in advance of the working stroke o., the ram mechanism, means for operating the ram mechanism, and means co-acting therewith for operating the spreader' and retaining devices.

6. The combination with in ram lnechanism adapted to insert a charge of crackers into-a carton and its wax-paper liner, of a pair of upper and lower* pivoted spreader plates, a pair of opposed pivoted end plates, a cam device for operating each pair of plates, means for actuating the ram mechanism, and separate means carried by the ram mechanism for co-action with said cam devices.

7. The combination with a ram mechanism adapted to insert a plurality of crackers into a carton and its wax-paper liner, of a-pair of horizontal rock shafts zontal shaft and a cam arm on the ram for coaction therewith and operative connections between said shafts, rack wheels on the i vertical shafts, a reciprocable rack bar connecting saidwheels, and a cam arm on the ram for coaction with said rack bar.

'In testimony whereof I have aixed myA 10 signature.

JOHN C. PINTER. 

